Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-02-11
MILTON TOOTLE'S ROMANCE.
Early Career of the Great Millionaire
at II. Joseph.

Early Career of the Great Millionaire
at IT Joseph.
"Three million dollars looks pretty
large these days. said an old Nilsson
rian Mt the Sherman house, as he blew
a cloud of tobacco smoke toward the
pretty ceiling, yet that is just the size
of the fortune old Milt Tootle left his
wife when he passed from earth thirty
six hours ago. Did | know Milf Tootle?
Slightly. In appearance and shrewd-
ness he was another Jay Gould. Nov
ing to st. Joseph when the town was a
mere village and the country round
about but little less than a bowling
wilderness he bounded into prominence
by establishing the first wholesale house
in the northwest This was away back
in the 40 s-at time when the state
was not crossed by railroad. Mlt
carried nothing but dry goods. and as
he had the trade of southern Iowa, Kan
sas. Nebraska and western Missouri at
his back he soon amassed great for
tune. But Milt was strange man, de
spite his mercantile perspicacity. He
was as unapproachable rs the car.
Everybody recognized his worth to
the town in which his business interests
were conferred, but nobody dared
take the initiative in making his ac-
quantance He was an enigma to
his employees and sphinx to his
townspeople. His wealth gave him
standing in what society there was in
those days, but MS presence at ball
lent no warmth to the festivities. Thus
he lived for many years. Once in
awhile the merchant was seen TO leave
ST. Joseph His trips. which rarely
consumed less than three weeks. were
made in most mysterious manner.
Nobody knew where he went and no
body had the termerity TO enquire BY
and by Milt took Il partner into his bus
mess. This man 5 name was Bill Far
leigh, a man with little pug nose and
the air of an autocrat, The firm of
Tootle & Farleigh soon became known
throughout the west and northwest.
The business of the house doubled and
trebled under the new management.
Mlt's mysterious trips were now made
with greater frequency, until one day 4
rumor reached the town that the mer-
chant was sowing wild oats around the
country. The society in which Milt
moved now turned its back upon him,
1t was deemed a disgrace for a young
lady to walk in the same atmosphere
which his elegant clad form Glove. Too
tie neither denied nor confirmed the
stories of the gossips. He was rich.
was making money. and what cared he
for the pouts and grimaces of the 1.-the.
blac<-e eyed beauties whom he had chill
ed with his supercilious airs? Milt be-
came more Of an icicle than ever. He
did not begin to melt until his ostarcism
became unbearable, and then it was on
~ drop by drop"
1T was at this period" the Missou-
rian continued, that a revival was
held in St. Joseph. Everybody in the
town was converted; even l came into
the pale of the church. One cold,
clustering night Milt strobe into the lit
tie meeting house. A murmur OF sur
prise ran around the hardwood pews as
the great and mysterious. yet naughty,
Tootlc was piloted to a seat by flush
ed and excited elder. Sitting in the
choir loft that night were three beauti-
full girls. They were the daughters of
Banker James O'Neill, who had died
some years ago. Alice (for that was
the name of one of the girls presided
at the piano. To her left stood
Jennie. while reclining in chair AT
her right was a queenly creature Katie
10y name. Mlt had known the banker
in days long gone by: in fact, the bust
ness Of the two men brought them to-
gether at least once a day Katie was
a wondrous beauty Moreover. her
voice which was a rich contralo, ri
vailed in sweetness the liquid notes of
flute or bird. Milt was smitten by the
charming creature. He had met her
many times IN the past. but never be-
fore had the lustrous eyes of the
maiden looked half SO beautiful. From
that moment the grabbed, clammy mer-
chant prince was a new man. He came
to the church every night, contributed
money to defray the expenses of the
revival, and. while he was not convert
cd. he manifested contrition for his un-
godly acts. Society now looked upon
Milt as brand snatched from the burn
ing. He was invited into the houses of
those who few months before had |
branded him as a sort of viper, and,
singularly enough. gained entree to the
O'Neill mansion on the hill towering
above the little church. The attention
he paid pretty Katie O'Neil soon be-
came town gossip. Nearly everybody
thought the match a good one, for the
Il = Il.